Cats using fig tree as scratching post..

[fluffy pluffy]

The title basically says it all. Our kitten Sasha decided that our fig tree in the kitchen made a perfect scratching post. I think maybe Tiger joins in sometimes,but the other kitties like their original posts. The problem is,if we move the tree to another room,it won't get as much sunlight,and the cats would be able to get to it anyways! Has this happened to anyone else? How do you get them to leave the tree alone? I thought of squirting them with water from a small squirt gun that we have,but when I leave the room,I can hear the scratching again! Ahhh!

[Marybelle]

Get some double sided sticky tape.  Make sure it won't harm the fig tree by testing a small area first.  Mostly I'd be worried about the bark coming off when you took the tape off.  If it doesn't hurt it badly, then just put it on the tree.  Cats hate it when their paws stick to things, so once or twice where their paws stick should make the fig tree unpleasant to them as a scratching post. 

[windfire]

i had one that constantly scriatched my tree. i ended up putting a carpet piece around it loosely but where she could scrtach and not hurt the tree.